Art & Culture

Emma Skyum: A Body in Story

27 October

It was lovely to finally sit down with Emma after going back and forth arranging our chat. From the first few minutes, it’s clear that she carries a calm focus, someone who moves through life with quiet confidence and deep self-awareness. Speaking from her apartment in Berlin, she reflects on the path that’s taken her from small-town Denmark to London’s creative scene and now to the German capital, blending the worlds of modeling, movement, and mindfulness into something uniquely her own.

“I got into modeling around the age of 13,” Emma begins. “I went to an open casting for Unique Models Denmark, which is one of the leading agencies in the country, and I got through.” It was the beginning of a journey that taught her as much about herself as it did about the industry. “At that age, it’s all about discovering your motivation,” she explains. “You attend meetings, get your Polaroids and measurements taken, and your agents check in with you about what drives you, especially when you’re that young.”

At 15, another passion began to take over. “Dance became my main focus,” she says. “My motivation had shifted, and I realized that’s where my energy belonged at that time.” What seemed like a quiet exit from modeling turned out to be the start of a new kind of creative foundation; one that would later redefine her career.

After finishing school, Emma moved to London to study contemporary dance. It was there, during her third year at university, that modeling reentered her life in the most unexpected way. “I saw an open casting for dancers-slash-models for SS Daley,” she recalls. “They were still an emerging brand back then, and they wanted performers for a hybrid runway show at London Fashion Week.” She pauses, smiling at the memory. “I auditioned and got it. It was such a surreal experience. I was performing and walking the runway, and that same night my photo ended up on Vogue Runway. It was my first professional show and my first time in Vogue. I’ll never forget that feeling.”

The experience marked a turning point. Dance and modeling no longer felt like separate paths; instead, they began to merge. “Dance taught me to understand the body and how to move with awareness and express energy through presence, not just through posing, That understanding has shaped how I model. It’s about communicating something deeper than aesthetics.”

Her journey across Denmark, London, and now Berlin has shaped her identity both personally and professionally. “Denmark sparked my curiosity,” she says. “I studied at the Danish Talent Academy alongside school, and that’s where I first realised I could become an artist.” London, she continues, was the place where that curiosity evolved. “It helped me become that artist, to find my voice and my direction.” And Berlin, she says, has allowed her to step into her professional self. “Here, I’ve been able to build on everything I’ve learned and really own my craft.”

Emma’s connection to her body extends far beyond the stage or runway. She’s a certified modern reformer pilates instructor, and she credits the practice with grounding her physically and mentally. “Pilates gives me balance, focus, and creativity,” she explains. “It’s not just about physical strength; it’s about feeling connected and centred. That state of awareness makes me a better model because it helps me stay present.”

She sees an exciting shift happening between fitness and fashion, one that celebrates feeling powerful rather than conforming to rigid ideals. “The two worlds are finally starting to complement each other,” she says. “It’s not about achieving a certain look, but about embodying confidence and energy. I think that’s such a healthy change.”

Before a show or shoot, Emma has her own way of preparing. “I’m quite extroverted by nature, but before work I tend to turn inward,” she says. “I focus, I ground myself, and I try to align with the energy of the project. That calm mindset helps me collaborate and stay open.” She recalls a particularly memorable moment from her work with Paul Mitchell Hair Germany. “For that show, my entire face was covered by a sculptural hairnet made of my own hair,” she laughs. “I couldn’t use facial expressions at all. I had to rely purely on body language, on radiating energy instead. It was challenging, but it taught me how powerful non-verbal expression can be.”

Collaboration, she says, is one of her favourite parts of the creative process. “When you come into a room with people you’ve never met before — stylists, photographers, other models — and everyone brings their own energy, there’s something magical about that. When it clicks, it’s because everyone’s truly listening to each other.”

Still, Emma acknowledges that her versatility has sometimes made it harder for others to categorize her. “I’m not one specific ‘type,’” she says. “I can shift and adapt, which is great creatively, but can also be confusing for people who want to label you. Over time, though, that’s become one of my biggest strengths. I’ve always stayed authentic. I’ve never drastically changed my look to fit in. I’d rather grow into who I naturally am.”

When asked what advice she would give to young people entering the industry, Emma answers with quiet conviction. “Timing,” she says. “If it’s meant for you, it will find you. I really believe that.” It’s a belief grounded in experience. “At fifteen, I thought my modeling journey had ended. Six years later, I was walking at Fashion Week and seeing myself in Vogue. Everything comes around when the time is right.”

That trust in timing is part of a larger optimism she carries through all aspects of her life. “I’ve always been a glass-half-full person,” she says. “That mindset helps me move through this industry in a healthy way, seeing the benefits instead of the negatives. It’s made me more grounded, more adaptable, and genuinely happier in what I do.”

Now based in Berlin, Emma is in an exciting new phase of her career. “Tomorrow I’m going on my first-ever model tour with GLYNT Hair, alongside Patrick Cameron MBE,” she shares with a bright smile. “It’s such a milestone moment.” She’s also just signed with her first major agency since her early days with Unique Models Denmark, and her work is expanding into new creative fields. “I’m part of an upcoming A24 film as a professional dancer, which is due to release within the next year. It’s a different world but still connected to who I am – embodying emotion and story through presence in my ever-expanding journey of becoming myself.’

Listening to Emma, it’s clear that her story isn’t one of sudden breakthroughs or overnight success, but of patience, intention, and genuine growth. From the curious 13-year-old walking into her first casting to a confident artist bridging fashion, movement, and film, her path has always come back to flow and trusting it, moving with it, and finding herself within it.

“I didn’t grow up in the industry,” she reflects, her voice soft but assured. “I grew into it. And I think that’s made all the difference.”

Emma is currently based in Berlin and will appear as a professional dancer in A24’s forthcoming film Mother Mary, scheduled for release in the coming year.